Rosie remains embattled over Rosie

The New York Post's Page Six column reports that Gruner + Jahr, the publishing company behind Rosie magazine, wants to separate the magazine from former talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell but fears that she'll accuse the firm of homophobia if they do so. "Those poor bastards at Gruner + Jahr," says an insider quoted by the paper. "Rosie pulled the old bait and switch on them. They thought they were getting Oprah Two. They didn't realize they were getting this woman who was going to retire from network TV and become an activist and a bit of a freak show." This same source also notes that it's not just O'Donnell's recent coming-out that concerns the publishers. "Once you're no longer on TV all the time as this Broadway-loving all-American mom, what are you? In real life, Rosie's sensibility is more New York, more coastal. It's an interesting experiment, but it won't necessarily go over in the heartland or with advertisers." Spokespersons for Gruner + Jahr and for O'Donnell insist that both parties wish to maintain their professional relationship and are working together toward that goal.